Vehicle event recorders with integrated web server

ABSTRACT

Vehicle event recorders are arranged with integrated web servers to provide a simple user interface and control mechanism which may be address with commonly available hardware and software. A vehicle event recorder of these inventions couples to a network having a workstation node. The workstation having either of the many available web browsers can be used to view, address, control, perform data transfer, et cetera, by way of data exchange in accordance with simple IP protocols. A vehicle equipped with these systems returns to a household to make a network connection. A local server is used to see all exposed system controls as provided by predefined web pages provided by a web server integrated as part of the vehicle event recorder unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

1. Field

The following inventions disclosure is generally concerned with vehicleevent recorder systems and specifically concerned with vehicle eventrecorder systems having integrated web server modules.

2. Prior Art

The inventions presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,947,817 by inventor Diem fornonintrusive diagnostic tools for testing oxygen sensor operationrelates to a diagnostic system for testing a vehicle where such systemsinclude a wireless communications link between a vehicle any remotenetwork of server computers. In particular, a WiFi type access pointsallowed an analyzer to communicate by way the Internet with a servercomputer hosting and oxygen sensor SOAP (simple object access protocol)service. In a nutshell, the system relates to smog sensors forautomobiles which communicate with remote servers by way of a WiFicommunications links.

Video surveillance systems are used to provide video records of events,incidents, happenings, et cetera in locations of special interest. Forexample, retail banking offices are generally protected with videosurveillance systems which provide video evidence in case of robbery.While video surveillance systems are generally used in fixed locationscenarios, mobile video surveillance systems are also commonly usedtoday.

In particular, video systems have been configured for use in conjunctionwith an automobile and especially for use with police cruiser typeautomobiles. As a police cruiser is frequently quite near the scene ofan active crime, important image information may be captured by videocameras installed on the police cruiser. Specific activity of interestwhich may occur about an automobile is not always associated with crimeand criminals. Sometimes events which occur in the environmentsimmediately about an automobile are of interest for reasons havingnothing to do with crime. In example, a simple traffic accident wheretwo cars come together in a collision may be the subject of videoevidence of value. Events and circumstances leading up to the collisionaccident may be preserved such that an accurate reconstruction can becreated. This information is useful when trying come to a determinationas to cause, fault and liability. As such, general use of video systemsin conjunction with automobiles is quickly becoming an important tooluseful for the protection of all. Some examples of the systems areillustrated below with reference to pertinent documents.

Inventor Schmidt presents in U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,127, a video recordingsystem for a passenger vehicle, namely a school bus, which has two videocameras one for an inside bus view and one for a traffic view, a singlerecorder, and a system whereby the two cameras are multiplexed atappropriate times, to the recording device. A switching signaldetermines which of the two video cameras is in communication with thevideo recorder so as to view passengers on the passenger vehicle atcertain times and passing traffic at other times.

Thomas Doyle of San Diego, Calif. and QUALCOMM Inc. also of San Diego,present an invention for a method and apparatus for detecting faultconditions in a vehicle data recording device to detect tampering orunauthorized access, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,130. The system includesvehicle sensors for monitoring one or more operational parameters of thevehicle. The fault detection technique contemplates storing a currenttime value at regular intervals during periods in which the recordingdevice is provided with a source of main power. Inventor Doyle alsoteaches in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,071, a method and apparatus formonitoring parameters of vehicle electronic control units.

A “computerized vehicle log” is presented by Dan Kikinis of SaratogaCalif. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,093. The vehicle accident recording systememploys a digital camera connected to a controller in nonvolatilememory, and an accident sensing interrupter. The oldest memory isoverwritten by the newest images, until an accident is detected at whichtime the memory is blocked from further overwrites to protect the morevital images, which may include important information about theaccident. Mr. Kikinis instructs that in preferred embodiments, thesystem has a communications port whereby stored images are downloadedafter an accident to a digital device capable of displaying images. Thisfeature is described in greater detail in the specification whichindicates a wired download to a server having specialized image handlingand processing software thereon.

Inventor Mr. Turner of Compton, Calif., no less, teaches an antitheftdevice for an automotive vehicle having both an audible alarm and visualmonitor system. Video monitor operators are responsible for monitoringand handling an emergency situation and informing a 911 emergencystation. This system is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,326.

A vehicle accident video recorder, in particular, a railroad vehicleaccident video recorder, is taught by inventors Cox et al. In thissystem, a method and monitoring unit for recording the status of therailroad vehicle prior to a potential accident is presented. Themonitoring unit continuously monitors the status of an emergency brakeof the railroad vehicle and the status of a horn of the railroadvehicle. Video images are recorded and captured for a predeterminedperiod of time after detecting that the emergency brake or horn blasthas been applied as an event trigger. This invention is the subject ofU.S. Pat. No. 6,088,635.

A vehicle crash data recorder is presented by inventor Ferguson ofBellaire, Ohio in U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,490. The apparatus is arrangedwith a three stage memory to record and retain information. And furtherit is equipped with a series and parallel connectors to provide instanton-scene access to accident data. It is important to note that Fergusonfinds it important to include the possibility of on-site access to thedata. Further, that Ferguson teaches use of a wired connection in theform of a serial or parallel hardwire connector. This teaching ofFerguson is common in many advanced systems configured as vehicle eventrecorders.

A traffic accident data recorder and traffic accident reproductionsystem and method is presented as U.S. Pat. No. 6,246,933. A pluralityof sensors for registering vehicle operation parameters including atleast one vehicle mounted digital video, audio camera is included forsensing storing and updating operational parameters. A rewritable,nonvolatile memory is provided for storing those processed operationalparameters and video images and audio signals, which are provided by themicroprocessor controller. Data is converted to a computer readable formand read by a computer such that an accident can be reconstructed viadata collected.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,290 presented by Abe et al, teaches a memoryapparatus for vehicle information data. A plurality of sensors includinga CCD camera collision center of vehicle speed sensors, steering anglesensor, brake pressure sensor, acceleration sensor, are all coupled to acontrol unit. Further, the control unit passes information to a flashmemory and a RAM memory subject to an encoder. The information collectedis passed through a video output terminal. This illustrates anotherhardwire system and the importance placed by experts in the art on acomputer hardware interface. This is partly due to the fact that videosystems are typically data intensive and wired systems are necessary asthey have bandwidth sufficient for transfers of large amounts of data.

Mazzilli of Bayside, N.Y. teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,759 a 360°automobile video camera system. A complex mechanical mount provides fora single camera to adjust its viewing angle giving a 360° range forvideo recording inside and outside of an automotive vehicle.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,339 granted to Inventor Just, of Alpharetta, Ga.teaches a vehicle operation monitoring system and method. Operation of avehicle is monitored with an onboard video camera linked with a radiotransceiver. A monitoring service includes a cellular telecommunicationsnetwork to view a video data received from the transceiver to ahome-base computer. These systems are aimed at parental monitoring ofadolescent driving. The mobile modem is designed for transmitting livevideo information into the network as the vehicle travels.

Morgan, Hausman, Chilek, Hubenak, Kappler, Witz, and Wright with theirheads together invented an advanced law enforcement and responsetechnology in U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,874 granted Jun. 25, 2002. A centralcontrol system affords intuitive and easy control of numerous subsystemsassociated with a police car or other emergency vehicle. This highlyintegrated system provides advanced control apparatus which drives aplurality of detector systems including video and audio systemsdistributed about the vehicle. A primary feature included in this deviceincludes an advanced user interface and display system, which permitshigh level driver interaction with the system.

Inventor Lambert teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,080 a “digitalsurveillance system with pre-event recording”. Pre-event recording isimportant in accident recording systems, because detection of theaccident generally happens after the accident has occurred. A firstmemory is used for temporary storage. Images are stored in the temporarystorage continuously until a trigger is activated which indicates anaccident has occurred at which time images are transferred to a morepermanent memory.

Systems taught by Gary Rayner in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,389,340; 6,405,112;6,449,540; and 6,718,239, each directed to cameras for automobiles whichcapture video images, both of forward-looking and driver views, andstore recorded images locally on a mass storage system. An operator, atthe end of the vehicle service day, puts a wired connector into a deviceport and downloads information into a desktop computer system havingspecialized application software whereby the images and otherinformation can be played-back and analyzed at a highly integrated userdisplay interface.

It is not possible in the systems Rayner teaches for an administrativeoperator to manipulate or otherwise handle the data captured in thevehicle at an off-site location without human intervention. It isnecessary for a download operator to transfer data captured from therecorder unit device to a disconnected computer system. Whileproprietary ‘DriveCam’ files can be e-mailed or otherwise transferredthrough the Internet, those files are in a format with a can only bedigested by desktop software running at a remote computer. It isnecessary to have the DriveCam desktop application on the remotecomputer. In order that the files be properly read. In this way, datacaptured by the vehicles is totally unavailable to some parties havingan interest in the data. Namely those parties who do not have access toa computer appropriately arranged with the specific DriveCam applicationsoftware. A second and major disadvantage is systems presented by Raynerincludes necessity that a human operator service the equipment each dayin a manual download action.

Remote reporting and manipulation of automobile systems is not entirelynew. The following are very important teachings relating to someautomobile systems having a wireless communications link component.

Inventors Fan et al, teach inventions of methods and systems fordetecting vehicle collision using global positioning system GPS. Thedisclosure of Jun. 12, 2001 resulted in granted U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,988.A GPS receiver is combined with wireless technology to automaticallyreport accident and third parties remotely located. A system uses theGPS signals to determine when an acceleration value exceeds the presetthreshold which is meant to be indicative of an accident havingoccurred.

Of particular interest include inventions presented by inventors Nagdaet al., in the document numbered U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,524 entitled usinglocation data to determine trafficking route information. In this systemfor determining and disseminating traffic information or routeinformation, traffic condition information is collected from mobileunits that provide their location or position information. Further routeinformation may be utilized to determine whether a mobile unit isallowed or prohibited from traveling along a certain route.

A common assignee, @Road Inc., owns the preceding two patents inaddition to the following: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,529,159; 6,552,682;6,594,576; 6,664,922; 6,795,017; 6,832,140; 6,867,733; 6,882,313; and6,922,566. As such, @Road Inc., must be considered a major innovator inposition technologies arts as they relate to mobile vehicles and remoteserver computers.

General Motors Corp. teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 6,728,612, an automatedtelematics test system and method. The invention provides a method andsystem testing a telematics system in a mobile vehicle a test commandfrom a test center to a call center is based on a test script. Themobile vehicle is continuously in contact by way of cellularcommunication networks with a remotely located host computer.

Inventor Earl Diem and Delphi Technologies Inc., had granted to them onSep. 20, 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 6,947,817. The nonintrusive diagnostic toolfor sensing oxygen sensor operation include a scheme or an oxygenanalyzer deployed in a mobile vehicle communicates by way of an accesspoint to a remotely located server. A diagnostic heuristic is used toanalyze the data and confirm proper operation of the sensor. Analysismay be performed by a mainframe computer quickly note from the actualoxygen sensor.

Similar patents including special relationships between mobile vehiclesand remote host computers include those presented by various inventorsin U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,735,503; 6,739,078; 6,760,757; 6,810,362; 6,832,141;and 6,850,823.

Another special group of inventions owned by Reynolds and ReynoldsHolding Inc., is taught first by Lightner et al, in U.S. Pat. No.6,928,348 issued Aug. 9, 2005. In these inventions, Internet basedemission tests are performed on vehicles having special wirelesscouplings to computer networks. Data may be further transferred toentities of particular interest including the EPA or California AirResources Board, for example, or particular insurance companies andother organizations concerned with vehicle emissions and environment.

Other patents held by Reynolds and Reynolds Holding Inc., include thoserelating to reporting of automobile performance parameters to remoteservers via wireless links. Specifically, an onboard data bus OBD systemis coupled to a microprocessor, by way of a standard electricalconnector. The microprocessor periodically receives data and transmitsit into the wireless communications system. This information is morefully described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,636,790 granted Oct. 21, 2003.Inventors Lightner et al, present method and apparatus for remotelycharacterizing the vehicle performance. Data at the onboard data by hisperiodically received by a microprocessor and passed into a localtransmitter. The invention specifically calls out transmission of dataon a predetermined time interval. Thus these inventions do notanticipate nor include processing and analysis steps which result indata being passed at time other than expiration of the predeterminedtime period.

Reynolds and Reynolds Holding Inc., further describes systems wheremotor vehicles are coupled by wireless communications links to remotehost servers in U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,031.

While systems and inventions of the art are designed to achieveparticular goals and objectives, some of those being no less thanremarkable, these inventions have limitations which prevent their use innew ways now possible. Inventions of the art are not used and cannot beused to realize the advantages and objectives of the inventions taughtherefollowing.

The inventions disclosure of U.S. patent application filed Dec. 9, 2005having Ser. No. 11/299,028 is presented by this same inventor. Further,another U.S. application filed Dec. 8, 2005 having Ser. No. 11/297,669is similarly presented by same inventor. In addition, another U.S.application filed Dec. 7, 2005, entitled: “Memory Management in EventRecording Systems” serial number unknown; this application will beamended to properly reflect the serial number as soon as it is known, isalso presented by instant inventor. Each of these disclosures includematerial which is critically important to a full understanding ofimportant concepts relating to vehicle event recording systems.Accordingly, these disclosures are hereby incorporated here by explicitreference.

SUMMARY OF THESE INVENTIONS

Comes now, James Plante with inventions of vehicle event recordershaving integrated web servers.

Vehicle event recorders having integrated web server modules are firstpresented herein this disclosure. A vehicle event recorder is arrangedas a video camera, microprocessor, memory among other supportingsubsystems such that when a predetermined event occurs, in example a carcrash or unexpected impact, a video record of the incident is preserved.In these inventions, such vehicle event recorders are further providedwith an advanced interface system. A web server module is incorporatedand arranged as part of the included computer system. Thus, the systemand all its subsystems may be addressed via hypertext transfer protocol,http, type transactions and commands. Users can interact with vehicleevent recorder units of these inventions with nothing other than anystandard computer. It is no longer necessary to load, manage, andmaintain, proprietary application specific software on a user'sworkstation computer. Rather, a user may manipulate system settings,view and transfer files, receive e-mail alerts, and otherwise completelycontrol the device as its functionality is entirely exposed by theintegrated web server and complementary computing systems.

As a consumer product, a vehicle event recorder may be installed in afamily vehicle without special knowledge or skill. The device operatesto collect video and other vehicle performance information while thevehicle is in normal operation. Upon connection to a computer network,or more specifically a home computer network, a simple computerworkstation equipped with a web browser can address the vehicle eventrecorder as the web server is responsive to requests sent by the webbrowser.

In addition, these systems include pre-programmed ‘web pages’ or ‘webforms’. These pages may be implemented as computer files stored in a ROMor DRAM, et cetera, of the vehicle event recorder. They arepre-programmed with interconnects and preset relationships withsubsystems. For example, these pages may be provide an interface tocamera settings such as brightness and contrast, et cetera.

Further, in some versions, a file transfer protocol server and simplemail transfer protocol servers are also included. These servers alsosupport general interface mechanisms which permit standard computers tointeract with these vehicle event recorders without requiringinstallation of special software and hardware systems.

OBJECTIVES OF THESE INVENTIONS

It is a primary object of these inventions to provide vehicle eventrecorders and vehicle event recorder systems.

It is an object of these inventions to provide vehicle event recorderswith an improved user interface.

It is a further object to eliminate previously required workstationdesktop applications and complex external communications mechanisms andprotocol.

It is an object of these inventions to provide interface to vehicleevent recording systems via standard computing platforms and ubiquitoussoftware.

A better understanding can be had with reference to detailed descriptionof preferred embodiments and with reference to appended drawings.Embodiments presented are particular ways to realize these inventionsand are not inclusive of all ways possible. Therefore, there may existembodiments that do not deviate from the spirit and scope of thisdisclosure as set forth by appended claims, but do not appear here asspecific examples. It will be appreciated that a great plurality ofalternative versions are possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, appended claims and drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a simple block diagram showing relationships between primaryelements of systems of these inventions;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a vehicle event recorder head;

FIG. 3 illustrates the relationship a vehicle event recorder videocamera has with its exterior and further illustrates other importantelements of the vehicle event recorder head;

FIG. 4 illustrates transactions over a network element of these vehicleevent recorder systems;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example browser type user interface associatedwith these systems;

FIG. 6 illustrates a second page of a browser having various systemcontrol functions which may be manipulated via the browser;

FIG. 7 illustrates an important network architecture and connectionassociated with these systems;

FIG. 8 illustrates in diagram several additional important functionswhich may be incorporated within a vehicle event recorder head; and

FIG. 9 illustrates an important network configuration which permitsremote access to vehicle event recorder heads.

GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS

Throughout this disclosure, reference is made to some terms which may ormay not be exactly defined in popular dictionaries as they are definedhere. To provide a more precise disclosure, the following terms arepresented with a view to clarity so that the true breadth and scope maybe more readily appreciated. Although every attempt is made to beprecise and thorough, it is a necessary condition that not all meaningsassociated with each term can be completely set forth. Accordingly, eachterm is intended to also include its common meaning which may be derivedfrom general usage within the pertinent arts or by dictionary meaning.Where the presented definition is in conflict with a dictionary or artsdefinition, one must use the context of use and liberal discretion toarrive at an intended meaning. One will be well advised to error on theside of attaching broader meanings to terms used in order to fullyappreciate the depth of the teaching and to understand all the intendedvariations.

Web Browser

A web browser is a computer graphical user interface operable forreceiving computer files and presenting a graphical display which mayhave interactive elements sometimes called ‘controls’ or web controls.Further, a browser is operable for sending requests in the form of acomputer file—generally both received and sent files are in a formatsuch as XML or more familiarly HTML.

Web Server

A web server is implemented as a special module of a computer and isoperable for exchanging information via computer files—generally filesin XML/HTML formats. A web server receives requests and returnsresponses to external parties via a communications link.

Web Request

A web request is a data transmission arranged in agreement with Internetprotocol directed to a specific web server.

Web Response

A web response is a data transmission by a web server arranged inagreement with Internet protocol and directed toward a requesting agentusually a web browser.

Physical Anomaly

Any change in a prescribed physical parameter which is defined asoutside the scope of normal operating conditions.

Managed Loop Memory

A ‘managed loop memory’ is a memory system arranged to preserve indetail data captured during a period immediately past with respect toany instant but to overwrite that data with newer data when that datahas sufficiently aged in accordance with a predefined expirationdefinition.

Vehicle Environments

The environment in and about a vehicle includes those spaces interior orexterior with respect to the car body. That is to say, traffic ahead of,behind, towards the sides of, and inside the driver compartment are allincluded as vehicle environments.

Communications Port

Includes means for supporting a data communications link including atransceiver or modem arrangement and suitable connection apparatus. Someexamples include: a mobile cellular transceiver; WiFi; WiMax; bluetooth;Ethernet; serial port such as RS-232; among others.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THESE INVENTIONS

In accordance with each of preferred embodiments of these inventions,vehicle event recorders having integrated Web servers are provided. Itwill be appreciated that each of embodiments described include apparatusand that the apparatus of one preferred embodiment may be different thanan apparatus of an alternative embodiment.

Vehicle event recorders first presented here are generally characterizedas including: a video camera, microprocessor, memory, and web servermodule. Video images are captured during use of the vehicle. When aparticular ‘event’ occurs, a captured video series is saved to a durablememory. When the vehicle is returned to a location where networkconnectivity is available, the captured video series is made availablefor review via a web server. The integrated web server, when connectedto a TCP/IP network, can receive requests for information from externalweb browsers. These requests for information may be directed as requeststo view data captured during a recent previous operation period. The webserver is suitably coupled to a memory whereby data and files storedthere may be transferred to the requesting web browser. Accordingly, webservers of these systems expose data captured by the device, includingvideo data of scenes about the vehicle captured during vehicle use. Inaddition, these web servers are also coupled to system settings andoperational parameters whereby adjustments to those settings andparameters may be effected via a web browser. For example, triggerthreshold values may be set to be more or less sensitive. An eventtrigger system arranged to detect an abrupt acceleration action mayinclude an adjustable sensitivity level. Via web browser interface, theevent trigger threshold can be set by a remote user operating a standardweb browser in communication with the device web server. A web server ispart of a complement pair which forms a user interface system. A webserver and web browser connected together via a TCP/IP network form aninterface system which is convenient and very powerful. Complete controlof the device is permitted because prerecorded “web pages” or “webforms” may be prepared as part of the web server. These pages and thecontrols thereon may be coupled to physical systems of the device. Inthis way, the user having no other tools than a standard computer with aweb browser is able to completely interface with the system. As such,proprietary software and the complexity and inconvenience associatedtherewith are completely eliminated.

With reference to FIG. 1, the reader will gain further appreciation ofarchitecture relating to apparatus of these inventions. In particular,vehicle event recorder head unit 1 with integrated web server 2 isinstalled in a motor vehicle such as a common family car 3. The vehicleevent recorder head is coupled by way of a data communications link 4,preferably a TCP/IP network to a computer workstation 5 operable forrunning a web browser 6. The arrangement provides a graphical userinterface to a remotely located user 7, and further, means of remoteinput and interaction with the vehicle event recorder by way of commoncomputer keyboard 8 for example. A user, in the comfort of a computerworkplace, can provide a vehicle event recorder mounted in an automobilewith instruction, update, interaction, download, review, among others.Functionality exposed by the vehicle event recorder becomes available tousers working at a workstation by way of a common computer or ‘Internetbrowser’ graphical user interface. For example, a user can use simplebrowser control interfaces to set the camera contrast and brightnesswhile at a workstation not in, or even not near, the car.

A vehicle event recorder with integrated web server is installed in thevehicle whereby a video camera has a clear view of the space andsurroundings in front of the car. In this way, should the unfortunateoccasion of a traffic accident occur, the video camera can provide avideo record of traffic conditions and events leading up to theaccident. A video series, including images captured just prior and justafter an event moment as initiated by an event trigger, the seriesrelating to an accident, is saved in a vehicle event recorder localmemory. At a later time, when the vehicle is appropriately coupled to aworkstation by suitable communications link, video series data can betransferred to the workstation where it may be further viewed andanalyzed. A vehicle may be coupled to a workstation by communicationslink of several alternative forms including at least an Ethernethardware connection, a WiFi wireless communications link, a Bluetoothcommunications link, a wireless mobile telephone network link, amongothers. Workstations used in these arrangements are of the type commonto nearly every desktop in every home or office. While a workstationalone is insufficient for interacting with vehicle event recorders ofthese inventions, a workstation with a ‘web browser’ or ‘Internetbrowser’ such as the Windows™ Internet Explorer is an ideal combinationfor providing access to vehicle event recorders so arranged. Of course,competing web browsers such as FireFox, Opera, Konqueror, Safari, Gecko,et cetera may be used with nearly identical effect. In all cases, thesebrowsers will communicate with a vehicle event recorder because they allcan read, parse and produce appropriate XML and HTML transactions. Thus,it is not necessary for users of these systems to buy, subscribe to,install, learn to use, maintain, update, re-install, among others, anyproprietary software. Rather, these vehicle event recorders expose theirfunctionality to any computer running a web browser of a user's choice.

In all prior art versions of similar systems, workstations are coupledto vehicle event recorders by way of proprietary application-specificsoftware running on the workstation. Thus, it is impossible in thosesystems to manipulate and control a vehicle event recorder with ageneral purpose computer not having specially prepared programming. Dataexchanges between a workstation application of the prior art and thosevehicle event recorders typically include proprietary calls and file andobject formats not compatible with general-purpose applications. Incontrast, as the unique vehicle event recorders first presented hereinclude a built-in web server, users have access to inner workings andsettings of the vehicle event recorder by way of ‘http’ transactions.Further, simple data transfer including large video files may be takenup and handled by the same web server or by an accompanying ftp (filetransfer protocol) server.

In some preferred versions, data communications link 4 is a common homenetwork. A vehicle parked in the household garage becomes coupled to thehome network by way of its proximity to a WiFi router for example. Whena teenage driver returns home, mom instantly has access to informationincluding video of her children's driving activity by way of herInternet browser.

A top-level block diagram of a video event recorder is presented as FIG.2. Video event recorders 21 of these inventions are comprised of theprimary elements including: a video camera 22, a microprocessor 23, aweb server 24, memory 25, and a communications port 26. A typicalarrangement of a vehicle event recorder includes having these elementscombined within a small plastic housing suitable for being mounted nearor at a car windshield. It is preferable to install these devices on theinterior portions of a vehicle in the passenger/occupant space. Whilethe elements described together in combination form a vehicle eventrecorder head, sometimes reference herein is made to a ‘vehicle eventrecorder system’. When a head unit is coupled with a network orcommunications path which includes a workstation or other server remotefrom the vehicle event recorder head, the ensemble is considered a‘vehicle event recorder system’.

FIG. 3 presents further detail with regard to the architecture of thesevehicle event recorders 31. The camera field-of-view 32 may be arrangedin ‘forward looking’ direction such that images of activity ahead of thevehicle are captured by the camera. Thus, it is said that the camera iscoupled to environments about the vehicle. The video camera is furthercoupled electronically 33 to the microprocessor whereby the camera maytransmit image data thereto. The microprocessor is further coupledelectronically 34 to a memory which may be managed by the microprocessorto store image series associated with particular events such as trafficaccidents. For example, upon receipt of signal from an event trigger 35,a short video series stored in managed loop memory 36, may betransferred to a more permanent stable memory, such as a high-capacityflash type memory 37. Finally, the web server 38 is coupled to acommunications port 39 which permits the web server to interact withexterior computing systems.

In some preferred versions, cameras are arranged as forward lookingcameras, others are rearward looking cameras, and still others as drivercompartment view cameras. The number of cameras associated with a singlevehicle recorder unit is meant to be not limited to one.

In preferred versions, a local memory is arranged to capture andpreserve video information associated with a time prior to, and after,an important event. A managed loop memory includes an overwrite processwhich preserves data for a limited time and overwrites data as soon asit has aged in accordance with an overwrite scheme. Upon the occurrenceof a ‘triggered event’—a car crash for example—the loop memory data istransferred to a buffer where it may be saved without subject tooverwrite for an extended time.

An event trigger is arranged to detect a physical anomaly such as a highacceleration associated with a crash or other impact; alternatively aheavy swear or excessive braking maneuver; or even as a response to apanic button strike. The event trigger declares the occurrence of anincident and sets the memory to preserve all data associated with theincident or event.

A web server of these systems preferably includes preformed ‘web pages’or sometimes ‘web forms’. In some advanced versions, these can bearranged in accordance with the Microsoft technology ASP.NET orsometimes referred to as Active Server Pages. These pages offer greatlatitude in providing web controls which are coupled to the internalsystems of the vehicle event recorder systems. For example, the videocamera may be controlled in that its contrast, brightness and intensitycan be manipulated via such web controls on ASP.NET pages.

Because a car is easily coupled to a home computer network via a WiFisystem, preferred versions include vehicle event recorder units havingan output port fashioned as a WiFi or WiMax transceiver. Alternativesmay include other radio type transceivers such as bluetooth, or opticaltype wireless links such as those which exploit infrared opticalcoupling. Of course, while not as convenient, it is entirely possiblethat a parked car be coupled to a home network via a hardwired Ethernetconnection. A vehicle event recorder arranged with a common networkinterface card could be plugged in with hardwire (RJ45 type connector)to a local Ethernet system.

A web server is sometimes considered a part of the microprocessor orother computing platform, as it may be embodied as a computer codemodule running thereon. In FIG. 3, it is drawn separately from themicroprocessor to bring emphasis to its importance. While known vehicleevent recorders have been arranged with common microprocessors, it isfirst suggested here that a web server module be included and provideinterface between a vehicle event recorder microprocessor and anexternal computing system. In this way, access to the microprocessor andvehicle event recorder subsystem functionality is provided to anycomputer system which address the web server with appropriate httptransactions. That is, the web server is arranged to receive well-formedhttp requests (in example, http ‘GET’ commands), and further to provideresponses constructed as http answers (http ‘POST’ responses).

FIG. 4 illustrates more clearly a particular example of a transactionbetween a user operating at a computer workstation 41, with installedWeb browser 42, linked by a communications link to a vehicle eventrecorder 43 having integrated web server 44 installed in a common familyautomobile 45. From the workstation keyboard, the user 46 may inquire asto the state of the vehicle event recorder by sending an http request inthe form of a GET type command 47. A GET command is fashioned as an httprequest and includes the URL of the source being addressed—the ‘webaddress’ of the vehicle event recorder; and perhaps an introduction webform or home/default web form. For example, a particular web pageproviding access to certain desired functionality may have a URL asfollows: “http://192.168.1.8/camerasettings.aspx”. A GET command 47including that URL is formed by and transmitted from the workstation'sweb browser to the vehicle event recorder's web server (having IPaddress 192.168.1.8). Upon receipt of the GET command, the web serverresponds by providing a POST action 48—an http response. The POST actionmay include transmission of an XML or/and HTML coded web page, which maybe appropriately interpreted and displayed by the web browser and itsgraphical user interface or sometimes ‘window’ presented to the user ona system monitor 49.

To better explain what is meant by the phrase: ‘the state of the vehicleevent recorder’ presented above, one might consider the following textin conjunction with the drawing presented as FIG. 5. FIG. 5 illustratesan example of a web page served by the web server of a vehicle eventrecorder. A web page is sometimes comprised a interactive objectssometimes and herein referred to as “web controls”. These include suchcontrols commonly known as: ‘menus’; ‘toolbars’; ‘drop-down boxes’;‘listboxes’; ‘radio buttons’; ‘checkboxes’; ‘sliders’; ‘textboxes’,among others. In FIG. 5, browser window 51 includes a field having apage title 52: “SmartDrive™ Camera Setup”. Further, the browser windowincludes a graphical element known as a menu or menu bar 53, and toolbar54. Icons associated with various functionality are laid across ahorizontal strip. When a user ‘clicks’ any of these icons, it sets intomotion a computer code module to effect some operation. A very importantaspect of any web browser include the address line 55. An address linemay contain the URL or web address of the source currently displayed.This address may be typed-in manually by a user, or it may have beenarrived at by way of a hyperlink from another page displayed previouslyin the browser window. Typical web browser windows further include otherinteractive objects such as a search engine interface including adrop-down box 56, a command button controls 57, slider controls 58,textboxes 59, an ‘option’ or radio buttons 510. From these web controls,a user interface is brought about and designed for interaction with theavailable functions in a vehicle event recorder hosting the associatedweb pages on its web server. A user may adjust a control and thereaftersend the state of the web page to the vehicle event recorder unit. Thisis accomplished by ‘pointing’ and ‘clicking’ to change the controlsettings and then submitting the page or posting the page to the webserver in the vehicle event recorder. In example, one may adjust thecontrast of the camera by using slider control 58 and thereafter submitbutton 511 which results in the page being posted back to the web serverand ultimately the contrast being improved. A careful observer will notethat each of command button controls 57 may lead to a differentassociation of certain functions in groups. The functions of the cameraare grouped into those which are displayed in that field 512. If thecommand button associated with system functions is chosen, then theavailable functions in field may change without appreciable change tothe general form of the page. FIG. 6 illustrates.

A group of controls associated with system function is presented in thediagram of FIG. 6 which is a graphical user interface embodied as a webpage 61. Command button control 62 associated with the system settingsis called at the browser by way of this page's URLhttp://192.168.1.8/systemsettings.htm 63. The page permits a user toadjust the IP address 64 of the vehicle event recorder at textbox 65. Auser may choose a particular enhanced timeline at a drop down box 66 asprescribed by those available in a managed loop memory system. Userdata/profile can be entered at textbox 67 and command button 68 can beused to save a username to a memory in the vehicle event recorder.Finally, a trigger threshold can be set on a continuous slider control69 to make an event trigger in the vehicle event recorder either more orless sensitive. In this way, a user at a remote computer running asimple internet browser makes adjustments directly to a vehicle eventrecorder installed in a vehicle.

While sometimes these web servers are arranged with pre-programmed ‘webpage’ objects addressable via web request actions, they may also includeprogrammed modules known as web services. These functions, propertiesand events, do not have a user interface associated with them, howeverthey include transaction interface which permits their being addressedvia TCP/IP web requests. These functions, properties and events may becoupled to subsystems of the vehicle event recorder head. For example,an ‘authorized users list’ may be adjusted whereby log-on actions byusers are enabled/disabled. This web service may be taken upautomatically in response to some condition being met. Therefore,without user interaction via a web page, but rather by purely automatedprocesses, i.e. web services, these vehicle event recorder systems maybe adjusted and otherwise manipulated.

Best modes of these inventions are illustrated in FIG. 7. A vehicle 71is prepared with a vehicle event recorder unit 72 having therewith anintegrated web server 73. A communications port, in example a WiFitransceiver 74 permits the vehicle event recorder to connect wirelesslyto a home network by way of complimentary WiFi transceiver/router 75.When the car enters a zone or space 76 served by the transceiver/router,the vehicle event recorder web server is accessible by a user 77operating workstation 78 running a web browser 79 program. The user mayadjust, upload, download, browse, and otherwise interact with thevehicle event record and data stored on the vehicle event recorder.

In special advanced versions, vehicle event recorders additionallyinclude modules other than a simple web server. For example, an vehicleevent recorder may additionally include a file exchange and e-mailserver systems. FIG. 8 shows graphically a vehicle event recorder 81 foruse in conjunction with vehicle 82, the vehicle event recordercomprising an integrated web server 83, a file transport protocol ftpserver 84, and an e-mail (SMTP) server 85. The web browser 86 at a userworkstation 87 similarly communicates with these elements in aconventional way to bring about these functions in a vehicle eventrecorder. In this way, automatic triggers can be arranged in the vehicleevent recorder such that it can send e-mail messages in response tocertain events having been ‘fired’ in the normal processing of thesystem. When something of interest occurs, an e-mail message is preparedand queued. On the next occasion where the vehicle event recorder isconnected to the internet, the SMTP sends the e-mail to the intendedrecipient. In a similar fashion, the vehicle event recorder ftp serveroperates to send and receive data files.

While most preferred versions are arranged with the primary objectivebeing a home, family or small number user local systems, theseinventions are also meant to include as a special case the need forremote operation. A private home computer network can be arranged with apublic port which exposes certain services through a firewall to thepublic internet. In this way, a vacationing parent can still have a lookat the vehicle use records from afar. Vehicle 91 equipped with vehicleevent recorder 92 having integrated web server communicates with localradio 93 as it enters communications space 94. the mere act of thevehicle entering 95 the space causes the vehicle event recorder tobecome connected to the network which may include the Internet.Accordingly, a communications link 96 of many thousands of miles ispossible whereby a user 97 working on any workstation 98 equipped with abrowser can address the web, file and mail servers of the remotelylocated vehicle event recorder.

One will now fully appreciate how a vehicle event recorder having anintegrated web server is used to provide simple user access to operationand function of these systems. Although the present inventions have beendescribed in considerable detail with clear and concise language andwith reference to certain preferred versions thereof including bestmodes anticipated by the inventors, other versions are possible.Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention should not be limitedby the description of the preferred versions contained therein, butrather by the claims appended hereto.

It is claimed:
 1. A vehicle event recorder comprising: a video cameraconfigured to acquire visual information representing a vehicleenvironment, the vehicle environment including spaces in and around aninterior and an exterior of a vehicle; a memory configured toelectronically store information; an event trigger configured to detecta vehicle event responsive to an event parameter breaching an eventtrigger threshold level; and a microprocessor configured to: responsiveto detection of the vehicle event, effectuate storage of visualinformation associated with the vehicle event in the memory; facilitatewireless communication of information between the vehicle event recorderand a remotely located computing device using HTTP; receive settingsinformation from the remotely located computing device, wherein thesettings information is operable to adjust vehicle event recordersettings pertaining to operation of one or both of the video camera andthe event trigger, and adjust the vehicle event recorder settings basedon the received settings information.
 2. The vehicle event recorder ofclaim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to causecommunication of the visual information associated with the vehicleevent stored in the memory to the remotely located computing device. 3.The vehicle event recorder of claim 2, wherein the remotely locatedcomputing device: determines adjustments to the vehicle event recordersettings based on one or more previously detected vehicle events, theone or more previously detected vehicle events including the vehicleevent detected by the event trigger; and communicates the settingsinformation indicating the determined adjustments to the microprocessor.4. The vehicle event recorder of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor isfurther configured to adjust the vehicle event recorder settings basedon settings information received from a user via the remotely locatedcomputing device.
 5. The vehicle event recorder of claim 4, wherein themicroprocessor is further configured such that facilitating wirelesscommunication includes generating one or more web pages for presentationto the user via a web browser on the remotely located computing device,the one or more web pages configured to receive entry and/or selectionof the settings information from the user.
 6. The vehicle event recorderof claim 5, wherein the microprocessor is further configured such thatthe one or more web pages comprise one or more fields configured toreceive entry and/or selection of the settings information from theuser.
 7. The vehicle event recorder of claim 1, wherein themicroprocessor is further configured such that the vehicle eventrecorder settings include an event trigger threshold level, the eventtrigger threshold level adjusted based on threshold settings informationreceived from the remotely located computing device, the thresholdsettings information entered and/or selected by a user via a triggerthreshold control field presented by the remotely located computingdevice, the threshold settings information indicating a desired eventtrigger threshold level from the user.
 8. The vehicle event recorder ofclaim 7, wherein the microprocessor is further configured such that thetrigger threshold control field facilitates adjustment of a sensitivityof the event trigger, wherein adjusting a sensitivity of the eventtrigger comprises an increase and/or decrease in the event triggerthreshold level made directly by the user via the trigger thresholdcontrol field.
 9. The vehicle event recorder of claim 8, wherein themicroprocessor is further configured such that the trigger thresholdcontrol field includes a web page object control button configured to bemanipulated by the user to adjust the sensitivity of the event trigger.10. The vehicle event recorder of claim 1, further comprising an outputport configured to facilitate the wireless communication between thevehicle event recorder and the remotely located computing device,wherein the microprocessor is further configured such that the vehicleevent recorder settings are associated with one or more of the videocamera, the memory, the event trigger, or the output port.
 11. Acomputer implemented method for adjusting vehicle event recordersettings with a vehicle event recorder, the vehicle event recordercomprising a video camera, a memory, an event trigger, and a processor,the method comprising: acquiring, with the video camera, visualinformation representing a vehicle environment, the vehicle environmentincluding spaces in and around an interior and an exterior of a vehicle;detecting, with the event trigger, a vehicle event responsive to anevent parameter breaching an event trigger threshold level; responsiveto detecting the vehicle event, effectuate, with the processor, storageof visual information associated with the vehicle event in an electronicmemory; facilitating, with the processor, wireless communication ofinformation between the vehicle event recorder and a remotely locatedcomputing device using HTTP; receiving settings information from theremotely located computing device, wherein the settings information isoperable to adjust vehicle event recorder settings pertaining tooperation of one or both of the video camera and the event trigger; andadjusting, with the processor, the vehicle event recorder settings basedon the received settings information.
 12. The method of claim 11,further comprising causing communication of the visual informationassociated with the vehicle event stored in the memory to the remotelylocated computing device.
 13. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising: determining adjustments to the vehicle event recordersettings based on one or more previously detected vehicle events; andcommunicating the settings information indicating the determinedadjustments.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising adjustingthe vehicle event recorder settings based on settings informationreceived from a user via the remotely located computing device.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein facilitating wireless communication includesgenerating one or more web pages for presentation to the user via a webbrowser on the remotely located computing device, the one or more webpages configured to receive entry and/or selection of the settingsinformation from the user.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the oneor more web pages comprise one or more fields configured to receiveentry and/or selection of the settings information from the user. 17.The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle event recorder settingsinclude an event trigger threshold level, the event trigger thresholdlevel adjusted based on threshold settings information received from theremotely located computing device, the threshold settings informationentered and/or selected by a user via a trigger threshold control fieldpresented by the remotely located computing device, the thresholdsettings information indicating a desired event trigger threshold levelfrom the user.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the trigger thresholdcontrol field facilitates adjustment of a sensitivity of the eventtrigger, wherein adjusting a sensitivity of the event trigger comprisesan increase and/or decrease in the event trigger threshold level madedirectly by the user via the trigger threshold control field.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the trigger threshold control field includesa web page object control button configured to be manipulated by theuser to adjust the sensitivity of the event trigger.
 20. The method ofclaim 19, further comprising facilitating the wireless communicationbetween the vehicle event recorder and the remotely located computingdevice with an output port of the vehicle event recorder, wherein thevehicle event recorder settings are associated with one or more of thevideo camera, the memory, the event trigger, or the output port.